Baysox Autographs

Somehow the autographs I got at the last Bowie game I attended, some Friday 2-3 weeks ago, slipped through the cracks and didn't get scanned until last night. So I will share them with you now. The orange bordered cards are from the 09 team sets that seem to have just been released in time for that game.

Miggy has always been a great signer, well he was at least good last year at Frederick and this season in Bowie. He is typically the first position player out of the clubhouse and seems to know a lot of the fans; he has a good personality and I hope he can continue to progress through the O's system. I got another one of my favorite 06 Ironbirds cards signed!


Mike Costanzo came to the O's from the Astros as part of the Miguel Tejada trade before the 08 season. He started this season in Norfolk but was sent to Bowie about a month into the season and has underperformed for most of the year. A possible reason recently surfaced, as he has a torn meniscus and needs season ending surgery.



Eric Crozier was signed to the Baysox towards the end of June and I was able to track down these cards before I went to Bowie. He seemed like a really cool guy and signed for everyone.
Kalina also made the astute observation that he has Popeye-like arms.



Fredy Deza has bounced back in forth between Bowie and Norfolk for most of the season. I saw him in Frederick last year; it's only a matter of time before he is sent to the Bluefield!


Adam has become the Baysox everyday catcher. He was surprised to see that I had the 08 NW Arkansas Naturals card and I told him that I recently had visited family in Springdale. He asked me about a few of the guys on the Nats, so that was cool.



Paco still has one of my favorite autographs. I really like the loopiness of it. Unfortunately, he has been off and on the DL for most of the season.



Moe is the field coach for the Baysox and is another guy who seems to have a lot of fans in the stands that talk to him and know him.



Jim pitched for the O's in the 2006 & 2007 seasons. He relied heavily on his heater at the time but is trying to develop a curveball to get back to the Majors.



Dave has been the Baysox leadoff batter and resident funny-man this season.



Oh Radhames; last time we saw ye, you were at least in Norfolk, albeit in the stands tracking pitches.
But now you have slid from AAA to AA, but at least you still sign for the fans. Even if you were the last one out of the clubhouse and only signed for me and one other fan. I hope that you can get your delivery fixed and take that electric arm back to Baltimore. At least no-hit Harrisburg again, please.

Bowie's First meet the team day of 2009

I briefly mentioned in one of my weekend Wieters' posts that I had attended Sunday's Baysox meet the team picture & autograph day.


I was lucky enough to get my picture taken with some of the Baysox biggest stars including:

Brandon Snyder


Troy Patton


& Brandon Erbe
Erbe also signed a card for me

I didn't get a picture with Jake but he did sign my card

My goal for the day was to get as many of the players to personalize their autographs for me. It was pretty easy since most of them are really nice guys like...

Ryan Keefer


Robert Valido (who asked if I was the Ryan he was personalizing the card to), Johnny Tucker and Dave Krynzel

Ryan Rodriguez only personalized one per my request


Ryan Ouellette, Paco Figueroa & Mike Costanzo (who went the extra mile with the "Best Wishes" inscription)

And only after all of this personalizing to me did I realize that there were 3 Ryan's on the Baysox. Kinda weird right? But I guess my name was just popular in the late 70s/early 80s.



I forgot to ask Brad to personalize my card
but still can't get over how his auto looks like B___ K__ K


Ambiorix didn't understand my request to personalize

Jim Hoey is on the DL so was at the game but didn't participate in the auto session


Adam Donachie was catching so I had to get him during warm-ups
Pat Egan was MIA from the table where his name was but I got him during warm-ups too
And Guillermo was signing in the concourse but he gets lumped in here

All in all it was a very successful day for Bowie autos and I had a great time.

Joe Nowicki literally causes Friday fireworks in Bowie

The title of this post is accurate. The Baysox were up 1 in the top of the seventh inning (the last inning since it was a double-header) around 10:30pm on Friday night. Fireworks were scheduled but they had to start (or end) by 11pm. The fans were getting nervous.

Wilfrido Perez was in to close out the game and struck out the first two batters with ease. Unfortunately, he walked the next Sea Wolves batter and the following guy took him deep to take the lead in the game. He got the last out but the damage was done. It was now 10:40, the Baysox were behind and the fireworks seemed unlikely.

Melvin Dorta led off the bottom of the seventh with a quick single. There was hope in Bowie.

Adam Donachie flew out to right for the first out as the clock continued to tick away the seconds. Joe Nowicki stepped to the plate, and he wanted to end the game for the good guys. One sweet swing of the bat and the ball was over the right field fence. It was 10:45 and the fireworks started before all of the players even left the field.

Oh yeah, I also got my picture with Brandon Snyder & Troy Patton. And got some sweet autos from some of the Bowie players that I didn't already have autographs of.

Troy Patton & me


Brandon Snyder & me


Troy Patton


Melvin Dorta(who got promoted to AAA Norfolk after the game) & Fredy Deza


Robert Valido & Dave Krynzel

Bobby Livingston (who shares my exact birthday) Jonathan Tucker, Mike Costanzo
Costanzo offered to sign 100 if I had them, and then joked they would cost $50 each

Brandon Snyder-isn't this a weird looking card though?